Blake Moran is a trans woman who was born and raised in Los Angeles. They are currently attending East Los Angeles College and are pursuing a career in music production. Even from a young age they had a deep passion for music, and it has always gotten them through the ups and downs of life. Blake’s ultimate goal in life is to have a career as a touring musician and to eventually form a band. They aim to create art that moves and inspires other people.

Catalina Villareal is a Mexican transwoman from San Diego who moved to LA in the pursuit of fashion and enjoys building worlds around moments and emotions to express her identity. Catalina creates undergarments that are more accessible for her community, she is producing tucking underwear for transwoman, called Kittygirl. She is often inspired by her experience from her reality, traumas, beautiful moments, and the architecture around her. Though fashion is her main medium she has recently chosen to reach beyond that realm. From showcasing garments in museums, building apps, physical art and movement, she hopes to have a successful business and return to school to pursue a career in fashion tech. 

Cristian Chavez is a Mexican American from LA county, born in La Puente, California and raised in the 626 (San Gabriel Valley). He is passionate about advocating for people of color and the LGBTQ+ communities, while promoting respect, inclusion, and equal opportunities. In his free time, Christian enjoys skateboarding and playing guitar. Through his interests and advocacy, he hopes to make a positive impact on his community and inspire others to be themselves. Christian’s goal for the future is to focus on his career in construction to make a better life for himself. 

Daniel Orellana Delgado is a multidisciplinary artist, archivist, and photographer. Born in El Salvador and educated in Los Angeles, their work is centered around social issues regarding Latine, immigrant, and Queer communities in the U.S. As a political science graduate from UCLA, Daniel’s work explores the ways marginalized bodies and communities resist, rebel, and question the powers that subjugate them. Daniel plans to continue their art, practice, and research with the ultimate goal of applying to an MFA Program in Studio Art. 

Diane Vargas is a proud daughter of two immigrant parents from Guerrero who has lived in the East La Area all her life. Something that inspires her art greatly is the fact that there are no rules or boundaries. For her, art is a way to express herself with her emotions or simply to pass the time. By joining HEAT, she plans to use it as an outlet to freely express herself and create; simply because she wants to share her experience and connect with others.

Gina Alonzo is a proud Guatemalan femme lesbian born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. She is currently a student at Santa Monica College studying psychology, sociology and gender/sexuality studies. In her free time, Gina loves to volunteer and work in nonprofit spaces and healthcare. She also loves her dog Kike and her parrots. Gina is inspired by the resilient women all around her. Most importantly, being raised by a single mother working in healthcare inspires her to pursue work in healthcare, specifically centering underrepresented communities like women of color, trans, and lesbian women. In the future, Gina hopes to pursue a graduate degree in Social Work or Psychology. She hopes to use the skills gained from working in outreach in the future. Ultimately, she aims to use her education to create a lasting impact and serve the communities that helped her grow. 

Melanie Castillo is a queer non-binary who is outgoing, responsible, and a bold thinker. Her parents are from Honduras, and she was born and raised in South Los Angeles. She is driven to unite her black and brown queer gender non-conforming community. She likes to use music, poetry, and dance to express herself creatively. Melanie’s goal for the future is to be an artist who represents and inspires her community. She hopes to give back to her community and leave the world a little better than how she found it. 

Nathaly “Gnat” Lopez is a queer Latine student at California State University, Los Angeles. She is a first-generation college student as her parents migrated to the US in the early 1980s from Central America (Guatemala and El Salvador). She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She grew up between East Hollywood and Boyle Heights. Gnat finds most of her inspiration from culture, different mediums of art, and music. Her future goals include graduating with her bachelors, working as an educator, or working with her local communities. She wishes to inspire those who might also struggle finding community and hopes to make a positive impact on them.

Zero Navarro Altamirano is a Hispanic non-binary first gen college student who comes from a low-income single mother household. They are incoming freshmen at CSULB and currently part of the Youth Advisory Board member with Mentor For Change. This new journey has inspired them to continue their career in a non-profit that supports LGBTQIA+ and people of color communities. One of their biggest inspirations is their mother because they have always pushed and supported zero through everything. In the near future, they wish to be psychiatric, social worker or therapist in hopes to give back to communities they are passionate about.